Padres Owner John Moores reiterated yesterday that he
is "inclined to vote against" News Corp.'s purchase of the
Dodgers, according to Ross Newhan of the L.A. TIMES.
Moores, the "first owner to speak openly about his likely
opposition" to the sale, said that his "primary concerns"
are the "possibility" that News Corp. Chair Rupert Murdoch
would "further escalate baseball's soaring salary structure
through indiscriminate spending" and then "possibly recoup"
his losses through his global media connections while
"ignoring baseball regulations." Moores: "Given Murdoch's
resources and the extent of his media operation, I don't
feel he'd be motivated to help get the industry ... back to
profitability." Fox Sports VP/Media Relations Vince
Wladika, on Moores' comments: "News Corp. runs every one of
its divisions in a responsible manner. They're all profit
makers. ... [I]f you're talking about running salaries up, I
think the owners have done a good job of that without our
help." Moores said that while such "media giants" as
Disney, Time-Warner and the Tribune Co. are involved in MLB,
those companies "are already in the tent, and the experience
hasn't been all that great. We're concerned about making a
bad situation worse." Moores: I'm sure what the fans in Los
Angeles want most is an owner of Peter [O'Malley's]
character and responsibility. Rupert Murdoch? He may be
the devil incarnate or the greatest thing since sliced
bread. We just don't know" (Ross Newhan, L.A. TIMES, 1/21).
DEAL IN JEOPARDY? Although Moores said other MLB owners
are concerned about the deal, Newhan adds that a "leading"
MLB exec said the Cubs, Astros and Pirates, whom Moores had
said were either "aligned" with him or "on the fence," will
"not vote against" the sale. The official added that he was
"confident the sale will be approved," although it is "not
clear" when the vote will take place (L.A. TIMES, 1/21).
